Parent Ambassador

NHS; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Greater London is seeking a Parent / Carer Ambassador to support parents and carers in the mental health journey of their young ones. The role involves facilitating positive relationships with clinicians and assisting families in navigating outpatient services. Essential qualifications include being educated to NVQ 4 level or having equivalent experience. The salary ranges from £32,199 to £34,876 per annum. This role requires empathy, interpersonal skills, and a willingness to support. Hybrid work options may be available.

Qualifications

• Must have lived experience as a parent or carer of a young person requiring support.
• Demonstrated understanding in dealing with sensitive information.
• Knowledge of mental health pathways through lived experience.

Responsibilities

• Support parents and carers to feel welcomed and informed.
• Help families understand outpatient services and build relationships.
• Contribute to quality improvement initiatives.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Ability to respond professionally to distress

Ability to work without supervision

Problem-solving skills

Ability to challenge issues relating to stigma

Education

Educated to NVQ 4 level or equivalent

Job description

Thank you for your interest in the CAMHS Parent / Carer Ambassador role. This pack provides you with all the information you may need to apply for this vacancy.West London NHS Trust has grown significantly in the last two years with investment in mental health services and this growth is set to continue over the next five years. In 2019, the Trust expanded its portfolio to include community services in Ealing and beyond, through our integrated care services. We are incredibly proud that more staff than ever would recommend us a place to work and we have seen a 28% increase in staff engagement in the national staff survey over the last 5 years.We are on a significant journey of transformation in the quality of services provided, through greater co-production with service users and carers, and addressing long-standing inequalities. Increasingly, we are leading and collaborating closely with integrated care partnerships including working towards giving a stronger voice to some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Main duties of the job

The Parent Ambassador role at West London CAMHS has been developed in response to reports highlighting that the voices of parents and carers are often underrepresented in their young person's mental health journey. This role ensures that parents and carers are seen as active partners in their child or young person's care, with the young person at the centre of all decision-making.

As a Parent / Carer Ambassador in this community outpatient setting, you will support parents and carers to feel welcomed, heard, and informed throughout their engagement with CAMHS. You will help families understand how outpatient services operate, facilitate positive relationships between families and clinicians, and work to strengthen family involvement at all stages of care, from assessment through treatment to discharge.

You will also contribute to quality improvement initiatives and co-production opportunities that aim to enhance the experience of families accessing West London CAMHS. You will need to be empathetic, approachable, and confident - able to engage with families who may be feeling overwhelmed, confused, or uncertain about the mental health system. Your goal will be to empower them with knowledge, offer emotional support, and help embed a culture of partnership between parents, young people, and the service.

About us

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ 4,500 staff, of whom 56% are BME. Our turnover for 2023-24 is £426m.

The Trust is rated as 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as 'Outstanding'.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Job responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached.

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to NVQ 4 level in a relevant subject or equivalent level of qualification or significant equivalent previous proven experience.

Experience

• Has lived experience as a parent or carer of a young person who has required support and treatment across the Health, Social Care and/or Education system.
• Experience of working as part of a team, engaging and supporting others in a team and receiving supervision and instruction.
• Experience of delivering support to peers in either a public sector, third sector or user/family led group.
• Experience of supporting individuals to access opportunities and support, ability to signpost to other services
• Demonstrates understanding and experience in dealing with the public/families and carers and dealing with sensitive and confidential information; including the recognition of trauma and the impact on individuals.

Knowledge

• Demonstrates knowledge of the mental health, learning disability and autism health, social care and/or education pathways through lived experience.
• Understanding of Confidentiality and Data Protection Act.

Skills

• Evidence of good interpersonal skills and ability to form peer relationships with families/carers/parents and advocates.
• Ability to act calmly and to respond in a professional manner to distress and also challenging conversations with staff.
• Ability to see solutions rather than problems.
• Ability to work at pace in a busy working environment and able to multi-task.
• Ability to work without supervision.
• Effective team player.
• Professional, calm and efficient manner.
• Able to work on own initiative, organising and prioritising own and others workloads to changing and often tight deadlines.
• Ability to challenge issues relating to stigma, discrimination and none recovery focused practice in a respectful manner.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£32,199 to £34,876 a yearper annum inclusive